SHATTERED Alex Salmond stunned politics by announcing he is quitting after his
independence dream turned to dust.
He said it was time for “new leadership” for both the SNP and Scotland.
He said: “My time as leader is nearly over, but for Scotland the campaign
continues and the dream shall never die.”
Mr Salmond will stand down as party leader and Scottish First Minister at the
party’s November conference.
David Cameron paid tribute to his political rival this afternoon, describing
him as “a politician of huge talent and passion”.
He said: “He has been an effective First Minister and always fights his
corner.
“While we disagree profoundly about his goal of a separated Scotland, and many
other things, I respect and admire his huge contribution to politics and
public life.”
Mr Salmond’s announcement, at his official residence in Edinburgh, came after Scots
rejected his plans to break up the UK by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.
It was a bitter blow for the 59-year-old, who has devoted his entire political
career to taking Scotland out of the UK.
His deputy Nicola Sturgeon is the clear favourite to succeed him.
But she could face a challenge from the SNP’s so-called “fundamentalist” wing
– which believes the current leadership is not radical enough.
Mr Salmond has managed to keep a lid on any dissent in the run-up to the
referendum.
Party bosses will now be desperate to avoid a period of in-fighting in the
wake of his departure.
A tired Mr Salmond said: “The real guardians of progress are not the
politicians at Westminster, or even at Holyrood, but the energised activism
of tens of thousands of people who I predict will refuse meekly to go back
into the political shadows.
“For me right now, therefore, there is a decision as to who is best placed to
lead this process forward politically.
“I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility,
party, parliament and country would benefit from new leadership.
“Therefore I have told the National Secretary of the SNP that I will not
accept a nomination to be a candidate for leader at the Annual Conference in
Perth on 13th-15th November.
“After the membership ballot I will stand down as First Minister to allow the
new leader to be elected by due Parliamentary process.
“Until then I will continue to serve as First Minister.
“After that I will continue to offer to serve as Member of the Scottish
Parliament for Aberdeenshire East.
“It has been the privilege of my life to serve Scotland as First Minister. But
as I said often during the referendum campaign this is not about me or the
SNP. It is much more important than that.”
Ex-Chancellor and No campaign leader Alistair Darling said: “Alex Salmond is a
formidable political figure. He transformed the SNP into a party of
government and delivered their referendum on independence which they had
craved so long.
“Today he has accepted Scotland’s verdict, recognising that it is for others
in his party to take the SNP forward.
“He can look back with pride on being the longest-serving First Minister and
to the huge contribution he has made to public life in Scotland. I wish him
well in the future.”
Former SNP leader Gordon Wilson said: “Alex Salmond fought a brilliant
referendum campaign. It is not his fault that the Scottish people did not
vote for independence on this occasion.
“The winning of 45 per cent of the vote in the Scottish independence
referendum is superlative achievement.
“It is a mark of Alex’s integrity that he has taken personal responsibility.
He is undoubtedly the greatest Scottish politician of his generation.”
Ms Sturgeon said: “Alex Salmond’s achievements as SNP leader and Scotland’s
First Minister are second to none.
“The personal debt of gratitude I owe Alex is immeasurable. He has been my
friend, mentor and colleague for more than 20 years.
“Quite simply, I would not have been able to do what I have in politics
without his constant advice, guidance and support through all these years.
“Alex’s announcement today inevitably raises the question of whether I will be
a candidate to succeed him as SNP leader.
“I can think of no greater privilege than to seek to lead the party I joined
when I was just 16. However, that decision is not for today.”
The shock announcement marks the end of an incredible political career.
Astonishingly, Mr Salmond has been the party’s leader for 20 of the past 24
years.
He became an MP in 1987 and was elected SNP chief in 1990.
The former RBS economist stood down in 2000, saying it was time for someone
else to take the helm, and returned to Westminster.
But with his party in turmoil, he dramatically came back to take up the reigns
again four years later – sparking an immediate upturn in their fortunes.
They dramatically seized power from Labour in 2007, making Mr Salmond First
Minister of a minority government.
Eye-catching policies such as scrapping university tuition fees and making
prescriptions free for all saw the SNP’s popularity soar.
![VARIOUS
Scotland Forward photocall with [ L - R ] Unknown, Alex Salmond, Donald Dewar and Menzies Campbell in 1997.
1997](http://mcb777.site/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2079992.main_image.jpg?strip=all)
Four years after becoming First Minister he was re-elected after an SNP
landslide in 2011.
That gave him the mandate to launch the independence referendum campaign.
Despite trailing pro-UK Better Together for much of the contest, Mr Salmond
inspired his troops to make a dramatic late fight back.
But ultimately, his career has ended in failure after Scots rejected his
separatist agenda.
His supporters took to Twitter to voice their disappointment and support for
the nationalist leader.
As much as people don’t like Salmond, the man fought for Scotland and gave his everything, so for that, Thank You!
— Kerry McRoberts (@Kerry_McRoberts)
Alex Salmond has led our country so well and I’m proud to have lived under his time as First Minister. Heartbroken right now.
— Ghost (@starlightwishx)
for all you’ve done, thank you. We may not be independent, but you captured a nation and inspired a generation.
— Ross Stewart (@RStewart20)